Gyeongpo Beach dessert shop: solo-trip corn sand gifts, Gangneung Sand

I had work in Gangwon Province, so I turned it into a solo trip to Gangneung. I wanted to bring back gifts, and wondered what famous Gangneung dessert snacks or souvenirs there were. I settled on something I could hand out to friends without any pressure: Gangneung Sand Main Branch (강릉샌드 본점).

Where to find Gangneung Sand Main Branch: 10 minutes from Gyeongpo Beach, down an alley

It took about 10 minutes from Gyeongpo Beach. Suddenly you see a sign in a small alley, so watch carefully so you don't miss it! Turn into that little alley and the Gangneung Sand headquarters building, a famous Gangneung dessert spot, appears.

I'd often seen this place in social media travel reviews and on YouTube. Every region seems to have its own regional "sand" cookie these days, and yes, Gangneung has one too! The main branch runs a regular dessert shop plus an experience zone, a sand zone and a café zone across floors 1 to 3, so it's a whole Gangneung Sand building. It was a great stop mid-trip, and the building itself is stylish, with a seaside dessert-shop feel, so lots of people were taking photos.

• Address: 31 Seonggokgoyang-ro 5beon-an-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon, floors 1–3
• Hours: daily 09:30–19:00 (last order 18:30)
• Parking available

It's so hot these days that indoors is the best! The blue exterior alone feels cooling just to look at.

Floors 1–3: experience zones and the 2nd-floor sandbox

This headquarters building had a lot of activities and things to look at. It seemed like a good place to come with kids too.

If you buy the 2nd-floor sandbox experience, you can play in the sandbox. Kids would love it, and adults too, don't you think? While I was ordering and waiting, a group of kids came in to play in the sand. Each floor has a different concept, so it was more fun to look around.

This is the 2nd-floor counter. Gangneung Sand has won many awards in Gangneung city contests, and it's one of the city's best-known souvenir desserts.

Gangneung Sand menu and prices: 6 flavors at ₩17,000

Here's the menu board. The first thing that grabs you as you walk into the main branch, and you can smell it right away, is the sand scent: the sand cookies. They're made with ingredients Gangneung is known for, in 6 flavors: Chodang corn, black sesame, purple sweet potato, dried persimmon butter cream, strawberry cream and coffee butter. Everything is ₩17,000 except the coffee sand.

Why I chose 2 boxes of Chodang corn sand

Since it's corn season, I bought 2 boxes of Chodang corn sand! Tofu and corn are the specialties that come to my mind first when I think of Gangneung. I packed Chodang corn because I think it's the flavor that best captures the feeling of the trip.

I bought one box to eat myself and one to give to an acquaintance, and I wished I'd bought more. The cookies are individually wrapped, so they're easy to eat one at a time, and nothing got damaged while I traveled, so it was no worry to buy on the last leg of the trip. I can see why it's popular with people preparing gifts at the end of a Gangneung trip.

Santorini-like exterior and the review event

The exterior reminded me of Santorini; they clearly put a lot of care into building this headquarters. You really get that holiday feeling, and the shop is big, so you don't have to worry about finding a seat.

Don't miss the review event! Leave a receipt review and you get a free americano. A perfect Gangneung souvenir, great for a date, and a must-visit on a Gangneung trip.

How did the Chodang corn sand taste?

Between the buttery cookies is a generous filling of soft Chodang corn cream, so it goes well with a drink, and both adults and kids like the taste. The butter aroma was strong, and the gentle sweetness of the Chodang corn spread naturally. Eaten with an americano, the sweetness and nuttiness balance even better, and I couldn't stop eating them.

I liked that it's a gift-friendly set made with local specialties, and a brand that lets you take trip memories home. I recommend Gangneung Sand to anyone looking for a practical Gangneung souvenir snack!